Friday, December 21, 2012

Laser Cup in Festival of Sails Promises Nail Biting Finish






The Laser Cup being held under the auspices of the Festival of Sails begins in Bombay Harbour tomorrow, Saturday, 22nd December.


Bombay has seen some lovely weather and reasonably favourable winds, the skies have been generally amiable too.

It promises to be interesting competition in all the three classes including Laser Standard, Laser Radial and Laser 4.7.

Among the favourites  for Laser Standard are Dharmendra and Gajendra, in the Radial, close competition is expected between Ramesh, Xerxes and Salil.

In the Laser 4.7, we predict tough competition between current National Champion Vir Menon, Upamanyu Datta, Vishnu and Ekta.


Avanti Menon, Youngest Girl Sailor, all of 13 years.

Among sailors of notable talent seen practicing hard was Avanti Menon the youngest girl sailor in the race, all of thirteen years old. Avanti first starting sailing at 7 years. She has earlier sailed in the Hong Kong waters with winds upwards of 15 knots as helm on an Optimist.

Menon's, A sailing family.

Vir Menon, Avanti Menon and their father Mr. Menon make a great sailing family on the waters together.
Vir Menon, National Champion

Ekta Yadav all of 17 years old is again a promising sailor on the Bombay waters. Sailing since 2008, she has been National Champion for Optimist in Girls Category for 2 years, and also won the Silver Medal in Open Category.
Ekta Yadav, Gold Medal in 420 Class National Championship in a 4.7 Laser


She has also sailed the 420 Class in Girls Category and won the Gold Medal in the National Championship in 2011.

Upamanyu Datta, Hard at Work for Asian Games





Upamanyu Datta, a student of Bombay International school has won the Junior 420 Class National Championship earlier this year.

He won his first National Championship in the Optimist Class at the age of 11 years.

He also won the Hyderabad Monsoon Regatta, three years in succession.








He along with his crew Hussain Arsiwalla, both winners of the Spring Chicken Cup for the Junior Under Nineteen Trophy for the 420 Class Sailing National Championship 2012. Both are preparing to represent India in the upcoming Asian Games in South Korea.
Hussain Arsiwalla, Energy on the Water!



We met both Upamanyu and Hussain on the waters during practice who thought that it was going to be a tough competition.

All in all the Laser Cup promises to be an exciting event given the effort and practice put in by the contestants. We look forward to a nail biting finish!

No comments:

Post a Comment